Paper cap

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a paper cap. The paper cap includes a top plate, and a sidewall formed downward at an edge of the top plate, and the sidewall is reinforced with a reinforcing member to firmly attach the cap to a cup, thereby preventing the side wall from trembling and thus preventing the cap from being easily taken off from the cup. Further, a receipt part is formed between an inner top of the reinforcing member and the top plate. The receipt part grasps the circumference of the top end of the cup and thus strengthens the connection between the cap and the cup, thereby not only preventing the cap from being taken off from the cup but also preventing a beverage in the cup from overflowing even if the cup is shaken.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper cap used for cups, and more particularly to a cap made of paper.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, transparent or semitransparent plastic caps are used as caps for all take-out or indoor cups including plastic cups, Styrofoam cups, and paper cups for beverages, such as coffee, tea, and ice cream. These plastic caps are thrown away after a single use, and thus cause not only environmental contamination but also requirement of excessive manufacturing cost due to a raise in oil prices.

Accordingly, use of a paper cap, which is easily decomposed when it is thrown away to reduce environmental contamination, and is manufactured without petroleum-based products to reduce a burden due to a raise in oil prices, is encouraged.

In the same manner as the conventional plastic cap, the above paper cap for beverage cups needs to be hygienic and is waterproofed, and needs to maintain restoring force with flexibility while not being torn when it is opened and closed several times. Thus, the paper cap performs its original role as long as it satisfies requirements, i.e., the cap is well fitted to a body of a container when it is closed so that the beverage within the container does not overflow due to shaking during carriage and the cap does not expand and contract according to temperature.

However, the conventional paper cap is not firmly fitted to the cup due to an excessively small strength of a sidewall of the cap and thus is easily taken off from the cup. Further, the conventional paper cap causes overflow of a beverage contained in the cup even due to slight shaking. Thereby, it is not easy to substitute the paper cap for the plastic cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper cap, which has an improved strength of a sidewall thereof and thus is firmly fitted to a cup to prevent the cap from being easily taken off from the cup, thereby preventing overflow of a beverage within the cup to the outside of the cup due to shaking during movement with the cup and thus substituting for a plastic cap.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a paper cap including a top plate, and a sidewall formed downward at an edge of the top plate, wherein the sidewall is reinforced with a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be a tape having a U-shaped longitudinal section, and the sidewall may be inserted into a central groove of the U-shaped tape. Further, a receipt part may be formed between an inner top of the reinforcing member and the top plate.

Moreover, a cutting line may be formed on the top plate so that, when a user drinks a beverage, the user removes a cutting part along the cutting line and thus forms a hole on the top plate. The cutting line may be formed in two stages such that the size of the hole may be adjusted according to a drinking amount to be required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general cap obtained by creasing a sidewall formed by bending a peripheral portion of a plate;

FIG. 2 is a partially torn-off exploded view of a paper cap, obtained by installing a reinforcing member on the cap for FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a state of using the paper cap in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a state of using a paper cap in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

A paper cap in accordance with the present invention includes a top plate 1, and a sidewall 2 formed downward at an edge of the top plate 1 and reinforced with a reinforcing member. One surface or both surfaces of the paper cap may be coated with synthetic resin.

The sidewall 2 is formed by bending the outer peripheral portion of the top plate 1 downward, and preferably includes creases 10. Further, the sidewall 2 may be formed by bonding a separate wall member to the top plate 1.

In the present invention, the reinforcing member is a tape 3 having a U-shaped longitudinal section. Therefore, the sidewall 2 is inserted into a central groove of the U-shaped tape 3.

Further, a receipt part 11 is formed between an inner top 31 of the U-shaped tape 3 and the top plate 1.

Moreover, a cutting line 12 is formed on the top plate 1. When a user drinks a beverage, the user removes a cutting part 13 along the cutting line 12, and thus a hole formed on the top plate 1. Preferably, the cutting line 12 is formed in two stages such that the size of the hole may be adjusted according to a drinking amount to be required.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an outer top of the U-shape tape 3 of the paper cap may be extended to an area above the top plate 1, and a rolling part 4 is formed on the extended outer top of the U-shaped tape 3. Such a paper cap provides a user with a soft tactile sensation, when the user grasps the paper cap, and is highly marketable.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a paper cap, in which a sidewall is reinforced with a reinforcing member to firmly cover a cup with the cap, thereby preventing the side wall from trembling and thus preventing the cap from being easily taken off from the cup. Particularly, if the reinforcing member has a shorter length than the circumference of the top plate, the circumference of the lower end of the cap is reduced, and thus it is possible to prevent the paper cap from being taken off from the cup.

Further, a receipt part is formed between an inner top of the reinforcing member and the top plate. The receipt part grasps the circumference of the top end of the cup and thus strengthens the connection between the cap and the cup, thereby not only preventing the cap from being taken off from the cup but also preventing a beverage in the cup from overflowing even if the cup is shaken. A cutting line formed on the top plate allows the size of a hole, formed by removing a cutting part along the cutting line, to be adjusted according to a drinking amount to be required.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A paper cap comprising a top plate, and a sidewall formed downward at an edge of the top plate, wherein the sidewall is reinforced with a reinforcing member.
 2. The paper cap according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a tape having a U-shaped longitudinal section, and the sidewall is inserted into a central groove of the U-shaped tape.
 3. The paper cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a receipt part is formed between an inner top of the reinforcing member and the top plate.
 4. The paper cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cutting line is formed on the top plate.
 5. The paper cap according to claim 3, wherein a cutting line is formed on the top plate.
 6. The paper cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rolling part is formed on an outer top of the reinforcing member.
 7. The paper cap according to claim 3, wherein a rolling part is formed on an outer top of the reinforcing member. 